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Review: V54 Custom Modified D25Cvn Ti V3 (1xIMR RCR123 only)

'SHOT SHOW Specials' are a series of reviews inspired by, or as a consequence of, my visit to the SHOT SHOW 2015.
These may contain photos taken while travelling, and may be of a slightly different format.

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Author's Statement for Transparency and Disclosure
The test sample/s featured in this article have been provided for technical testing and review by the manufacturer. Test samples are retained by the reviewer following publication of the completed review for the purposes of long term testing and product comparisons.

All output figures and test results published in this review are the sole work of the reviewer, and are carried out independently and without bias. Test results are reported as found, with no embellishments or alteration. Though best endeavours are made to maintain the accuracy of test equipment, the accuracy of these results is not guaranteed and is subject to the test equipment functioning correctly.
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On test in this review is one of CPF's own Vinhnguyen54's V54 custom modified lights. In this case it is the Eagletac D25Cvn Ti V3 with PDTc XP-G2 emitter, dark pocket clip, polished, solder filled and engraved. The driver is the EDC version which starts on moon mode. This light is also known as the 'The Micro Searchlight'.

Taking a more detailed look:

The package (sent via Vinh's normal logistical route) arrived promptly and contained this signed box. The warranty card was sent separately.

Inside the box was a holstered D25Cvn showing its dark pocket clip, along with the D25C's normal accessories plus two Efest IMR 16340 550mAh cells. (The IMR cells were included for the review, but are not supplied as standard – though Vinh can supply these at extra cost).

This light came engraved on the side of the bezel ring.

A closer look at the engraving

The switch boot is Glow-In-The-Dark material which is very bright when charged.

And now onto the business-end. The XP-G2 PDTc (see the end of the review for links to information on PDTc) LED. This has been de-domed and selected for better colour.

The entire phosphor surface is totally clear of any residue and undamaged – really nice work!

The clip has been heat treaded for colouration.

The head has been filled with solder for better heat transfer.

The threads are just as supplied by Eagletac.

The GITD switch boot with Eagtac/Eagletac logo.

A very tidy holster comes with this light.

The belt loop is Velcro fastened so can be fitted without removing the belt.

In case you were wondering about size, here is the light next to a 16340 IMR cell. This is a 'Micro' Searchlight.

The beam

Despite the textured reflector, here you can see the very bright hotspot but with enough spill to be useful. The photo is taken with daylight white balance to try to show any colour shift. There is some yellowing, but with Vinh's PDTc this is more along the lines of having a warm tint rather than any bad colour shift.

And moving outdoors you can see why this is a Micro Searchlight!

An admittedly unfair comparison, being significantly bigger light, with more power and big reflector, here is the Fenix TK41 on Turbo. The diminutive D25Cvn stands up well against this competition.

Modes and User Interface:

With a single reverse-click switch, the D25Cvn Ti V3 has a very simple interface.

Click on – Moonlight
Tap the button halfway and release– Low
Tap the button halfway and release – Medium
Tap the button halfway and release – High/Max and it come to life!

When left off for a few seconds it defaults back to Moonlight

Worth mentioning is that the other aspect of a V54 light's interface is the skin of the person holding it. You need to feel how hot it is getting and use this feedback to know when to turn it off.

Batteries and output:

To measure actual output, I built an integrating sphere. See here for more detail. The sensor registers visible light only (so Infra-Red and Ultra-Violet will not be measured).

Please note, all quoted lumen figures are from a DIY integrating sphere, and according to ANSI standards. Although every effort is made to give as accurate a result as possible, they should be taken as an estimate only. The results can be used to compare outputs in this review and others I have published.

D25Cvn Ti V3 PDTc using Efest IMR 550mAh cell

I.S. measured ANSI output Lumens

PWM frequency or Strobe frequency (Hz)

Switch on – NOT ANSI

644

0

High

555

0

Medium

238

14700

Low

38

14700

Moon

Below Threshold

14700

There is no parasitic drain.

Peak beam intensity of 16700lux equating to a beam range of 258m.

The moment you hit Maximum output you are getting 644lm and this is still 555lm when you reach the ANSI 30s mark. All out of a small 16430 powered light.

The runtime trace shows two different runs. The lower output is using the Medium setting and allowing it to run uninterrupted. This might be considered its 'normal' use setting (not going to Max).

Then you have the main runtime trace which shows running it on Max until it was too hot to touch (you feel it heating up within seconds). Then cooling it with a fan until it gets back to room temperature and repeating. As you can see on the fourth run of Max output it did not get too hot to touch (nearly, but not quite). After five minutes it dropped to Medium output which I reset to Max and continued. At the cut-off of the runtime test, the IMR cell was at 2.9V.

The D25Cvn in use

Vinh's lights are not to be treated lightly. Before buying one you should look at the Terms thread and Warranty thread.

READ, ABSORB and CONSIDER then BUY and have FUN.

So, if, I say IF, you don't hit the max output, then the D25Cvn is a quality, nicely finished, compact highly usable 'normal' EDC light (obviously here the EDC driver is in use) wrapped up in a lovely titanium package. The Moonlight mode is super useful indoors when you don't want to draw attention to yourself (such as the cinema/theatre etc), the Low is great for normal use and the Medium just that bit more power.

Lurking in that same light is the beast of Max mode where you unleash the 555 ANSI lumens (or 644lm at switch on) and the D25Cvn bursts into its full reason for existing. Incredibly, the head does heat up noticeably within seconds. Pushing things to the Max is Vinh's speciality and The D25Cvn is no exception. The D25Cvn's driver takes everything the IMR cell can give and just continues to get hotter until you need to shut it off. While running, you have as much light and beam intensity as this small host could feasibly muster, and you know you have something special and exclusive.

Review Summary

To be clear, this is intended to be a balanced view of aspects that all potential buyers should consider. Points included in the 'What is not so good' column may well simply be characteristics of Vinh's modifications that might make this light unsuitable for certain users/situations rather than something bad.